Our View: It's time to get on board with public transit

April 26, 2013

Whether it's economic factors or personal preference, more U.S. adults are going without a vehicle of their own. Public transit has seen its highest numbers since the 1950s. Even rural transit systems around Northern Michigan are thriving and we believe it's time Emmet County got on board with the idea.

The News-Review recently published two stories that highlight the trend.

First, we spoke with three Petoskey residents who have given up owning a vehicle for various reasons. All say that while getting by without a car in Petoskey can be done, their lives would be much easier with a public transit option. We can only imagine there are many more in our community that would make use of such a system.

Second, we reported that the Charlevoix County Transit System has seen significant growth over the last two years. From January through April 15, the system has added 343 new riders into its database and the number of rides taken by the people who use the service has gone up as well.

Transit recorded 94,000 rides in 2011. That spiked to 110,000 in 2012. So far this fiscal year, which is half over, the county transit vehicles have been used 60,300 times. That puts it at about 120,000 rides by the end of the year.

But in Emmet County, that kind of transit system doesn't exist.

In fact, according to Friends Enhancing Emmet Transit (FEET), a group of representatives from local human service agencies, business, groups serving seniors and persons with disabilities, and other community leaders, all neighboring counties and most rural counties in Northern Michigan have a public transit system.

The group has done multiple studies over the past several years and believes a public transit system in Emmet County, which would be a tax-funded system, would be successful.

According to the Friends Enhancing Emmet Transit's website, a transit authority would provide an opportunity to receive state and federal funding. This, along with a modest millage and fares, could fund the "dial a ride" type system.

The group believes a county millage of .20 mils would be reasonable, which breaks down to about the cost of one takeout pizza a year per household. Fares would also help offset the cost, of about $2 to $3 a ride, with reduced prices for seniors and people with disabilities.

While we realize many local households will never find it practical to go without a car, we know that for several segments of our population -- seniors, people with disabilities and lower-income workers -- a public transit system could be a very practical and very popular option.

If Emmet County commissioners agree, the issue could be put on the 2014 ballot and left up to voters.

We think public transit could be successful here and provide a valuable service for so many. And we'd like to see Emmet County get on board with the idea.

According to Friends Enhancing Emmet Transit, the following would be benefits of having a local public transit system:

-- Help people, especially low-income workers, get to jobs. Help businesses retain workers.

-- Give people in the community greater access to cultural, leisure and recreational activities

-- Reduce traffic congestion.

-- Enhance access to downtown shopping.

-- Reduce energy consumption and harmful greenhouse gas emissions.

-- Bike racks on buses will allow recreational cyclists and commuters to ride the bus to work or trail heads and return by bike.

-- Racks for skis and snowboards will allow youth and others to get to ski hills without a car.